Contract approved for park flood work

Annual flooding problems at a St. Joseph County landmark could be resolved following action Tuesday by county commissioners.

Acting on a request from parks and recreation director Jaymes MacDonald, commissioners approved a $20,000 contract with civil engineers Fleiss & Vandenbrink for the design and implementation of flood-mitigation actions.

In a memo to commissioners, MacDonald said Rawson’s King Mill County Park has experienced damage from flooding annually since 2015.

The Leonidas Township park is known for its picturesque, throwback setting on the Nottawa Creek.

County administrator Teresa Doehring said the late Eston Rawson bequeathed the county’s parks and recreation department $250,000 for future maintenance and upkeep of the property.

The account maintains a balance of about $160,000, from which the $20,000 will be deducted.